Devices for treating safety razor blades

ABSTRACT

A device for treating a safety razor blade, including blades fixed between end portions of the safety razor blade, may include a polymer-based mat. The mat may include at least one substantially plane surface having an indentation hardness less than 50 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale. The mat may be coupled to a substantially rigid frame structure. The mat may sharpen and clean the blades when the safety razor blade is moved along the mat in a direction opposite to a normal shaving direction. The device may further include first and second sidewalls on first and second sides of the mat. The sidewalls may prevent the safety razor blade from sliding off the mat in a first direction when a user of the device is sliding the blades along the mat in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/087,755, filed on Aug. 25, 2008, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice (“USPTO”), and published on Jan. 1, 2009, as U.S. PatentPublication No. 2009/0000426 A1, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference, and claims the associated benefitunder 35 U.S.C. §§120 and/or 121. U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/087,755 is a national stage entry from International Application No.PCT/DK2007/000019, filed on Jan. 12, 2007, in the Receiving Office ofthe Danish Patent and Trademark Office (“DKPTO”), and published on Jul.19, 2007, as International Publication No. WO 2007/079756 A1, the entirecontents of which are also incorporated herein by reference, and claimsthe associated benefit under 35 U.S.C. §§120, 121, 363, and/or 365.International Application No. PCT/DK2007/000019 claims the benefit under35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/758,610,filed on Jan. 13, 2006, in the USPTO, the entire contents of which areadditionally incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a razor blade sharpening and cleaningdevice comprising a polymer-based mat having at least one substantiallyplane surface, the device further comprising a pair of guiding tracksbeing arranged so that at least part of the polymer-based mat isarranged between said pair of guiding tracks. The guiding tracks and thepolymer-based mat are arranged relative to each other in such a way thatthe guiding tracks define a maximum allowed penetration depth of theblades of the safety razor blade into the polymer-based mat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,731 discloses an apparatus for sharpening a razorblade. The apparatus includes a sharpening member, a housing forsecuring the sharpening member therein and for guiding a razor blade inback-and-forth sharpening movement within the housing. The housing has atransverse slot for inserting a head of a razor blade holder therein,and a longitudinal slot in a top plate thereof for linear movementtherein of the handle which carries the blade holder. The sharpening orhoning member is preferably made of a plate of glass secured to thebottom wall of the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,970 discloses a stropping device for a blade forsafety razors. The device allows an existing razor blade to berepeatedly used disclosed. The stropping device consists of a main bodyand an adhesive sheet attached on the back surface of the main body. Aguide groove part is longitudinally formed on a front portion of themain body, while a protrusion is integrally and horizontally formed on atop portion of the main body. Also, side walls are formed at both sideends of the main body in such a manner that their outer surfaces aresmoothly curved. A stropping plate member, produced from a leathermaterial such as a natural or synthetic leather or suede, is attached onthe bottom surface of the guide groove part by an adhesive means. Inaddition, a recess is formed on a rear portion of the protrusion in sucha manner that a nail, driven in a wall in a house, is inserted into therecess.

It is a disadvantage of the sharpening device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,036,731 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,970 that medium upon which the razorblade is to be sharpened and is moved across do not match the hardnessof the skin of the body. The mismatch implies that the blades of therazor blade are very vulnerable and are easily damaged.

It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention toprovide razor blade sharpener where blades of a safety razor blade arenot so easily damaged.

It is a further object of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention to provide razor blade sharpener where blades of a safetyrazor blade are sharpened against a medium having an indentationhardness similar of the indentation hardness of human skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned objects are complied with by providing, in a firstaspect, a device for sharpening and cleaning a safety razor blade, thedevice comprising

-   -   a polymer-based mat, the polymer-base mat comprising at least        one substantially plane surface, and    -   a pair of guiding tracks being arranged so that at least part of        the polymer-based mat is arranged between said pair of guiding        tracks        wherein the guiding tracks and the polymer-based mat are        arranged relative to each other in such a way that the guiding        tracks define a maximum allowed penetration depth of the blades        of the safety razor blade into the polymer-based mat.

The device according to the present invention may be a stand-alonedevice, or it may form an integral part of a toilet requisite, such as atoilet bag.

The indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat may be less than 50measured on the Durometer Shore A scale, such as less than 40, such asless than 30, such as less than 20, such as less than 10. Thus, thepolymer-based mat may have an indentation hardness similar to thehardness of the human skin. Furthermore, the material constituting thepolymer-based mat may be a foodstuff-approved material. In addition, thematerial may be an allergic-approved material. Finally, thepolymer-based mat is a very user friendly material in that cleaningafter use may be done simply by using water.

The polymer-based mat may be made of an injection mouldable material,such as post cured injection mouldable silicone, which is also suitablefor mass production. In addition, the polymer-based mat may comprisechannels or pores adapted to accommodate an abrasive, a liquid soap or aliquid shampoo. Thus, the polymer-based mat itself may accommodate theabrasive, soap or shampoo. A sufficient amount of abrasive, soap orshampoo may be released from the polymer-based mat via the channels orpores by slightly compressing the polymer-based mat.

The polymer-based mat may have a varying indentation hardness across theat least one substantially plane surface. A varying indentation hardnessmay be provided in various ways, such as for example by introducing oneor more recesses in a surface opposing the at least one substantiallyplane surface. By providing such one or more recesses the indentationhardness of the at least one substantially plane surface will be soft inan area coinciding with a recess, whereas the indentation hardness of anarea not coinciding with a recess will not be softened by therecess/recesses.

The pair of guiding tracks may be arranged in a substantially parallelmanner. Each of the two guiding tracks may be adapted to support andguide an end portion of the safety razor blade. In this way the pair ofguiding tracks defines the in-depth movement of the safety razor bladerelative to the polymer-based mat. This control of the in-depth movementof the safety razor blade relative to the polymer-based mat ensures thecutting edges of the safety razor blade are not exposed to forces thatdamage the fragile cutting edges.

The device according to the present invention may further comprise asubstantially rigid frame structure, said frame structure beingfabricated of a material suitable for injection moulding. This materialmay for example be a polymer, such as plastic. Preferably, the pair ofguiding tracks form an integral part of the substantially rigid framestructure.

The substantially rigid frame structure may comprise an opening or anindentation adapted to at least partly housing the polymer-based mat. Ina preferred embodiment the opening forms a through-going opening orthrough-going openings in the frame structure. By arranging the openingor openings as through-going openings the polymer-based mat may bearranged in such as manner that it forms a non-slipping surface whichwill allow, that the device may be positioned on a substantially planesupport, such as the surface of a table, with a secure grip in thatsurface. Thus, opposing sides of the polymer-based mat may form 1) asubstantially plane surface to be used when a safety razor blade is tosharpened and/or cleaned, and 2) an opposing surface or opposing surfacepart which extends all the way through the substantially rigid framestructure thereby establishing a non-slipping arrangement of the device.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method forsharpening and cleaning a safety razor blade, the method comprising thesteps of

-   -   providing a polymer-based mat, the polymer-base mat comprising        at least one substantially plane surface,    -   providing an abrasive or a cleaning material on at least part of        the substantially plane surface of the mat, and    -   moving or sliding the safety razor blade across the        substantially plane surface of the mat in a direction opposite        the shaving direction, the safety razor blade being moved in a        manner so that at least part of the abrasive is distributed over        at least part of the substantially plane surface of the mat.

By moving or sliding is meant that the safety razor blade is movedacross the mat, while being in contact with it, a predetermined numberof times. This number of times could be between 3-5. In order not thedamage the polymer-based mat direction of movement of the safety razorblade is opposite to the normal shaving direction. By cleaning materialis meant a liquid soap, a liquid shampoo or the like.

The overall idea between the present invention is that the polymer-basedmat should simulate the human skin. For the same reason, the indentationhardness of the polymer-based mat may be less than 50 measured on theDurometer Shore A scale, such as less than 40, such as less than 30,such as less than 20, such as around 10. Thus, the polymer-based mat mayhave an indentation hardness similar to the hardness of the human skin.A suitable abrasive may be an abrasive similar to abrasives/cleanersused for cleaning glass/ceramic cook-tops. However, other abrasivescontaining aluminium oxide may also be applicable. The providing of theabrasive or the cleaning material may be performed via channels or poresformed in the polymer-based mat itself.

By applying the method according to the present invention the lifetimeof safety razor blades may be increased by a factor of up to five.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of apolymer-based mat in combination with an aluminium oxide containingabrasive for sharpening and cleaning a safety razor blade. The use maycomprise the steps of providing the abrasive on at least a part of themat, such as on at least part of a substantially plane surface, andsliding the safety razor blade across the substantially plane surface ofthe mat in a manner so that at least part of the abrasive is distributedover at least part of the substantially plane surface of the mat.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to the use of apolymer-based mat in combination with a cleaning material for sharpeningand cleaning a safety razor blade. The use may comprise the steps ofproviding the cleaning material on at least a part of the mat, such ason at least part of a substantially plane surface, and sliding thesafety razor blade across the substantially plane surface of the mat ina manner so that at least part of the cleaning material is distributedover at least part of the substantially plane surface of the mat. Asmentioned above the term cleaning material is meant to comprise liquidsoap, liquid shampoo or the like.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a device forstoring, sharpening and cleaning a safety razor blade, the devicecomprising a polymer-based mat section comprising at least onesubstantially plane surface, and one or more polymer-based holdingelements for holding the safety razor blade in a fixed relationship withthe device.

The polymer-based mat section may comprise a mat with properties similarto the mat according to the first aspect of the present invention. Thus,the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat section may be lessthan 50 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale, such as less than 40,such as less than 30, such as less than 20, such as less than around 10.Similarly, the polymer-based mat section may comprise channels or poresadapted to accommodate an abrasive or a cleaning material, such asliquid soap or liquid shampoo.

The device according to the fifth aspect may form a one-piece componentcomprising one polymer-based material, such as silicone. The device maybe fabricated using an injection moulding process.

The polymer-based mat region may have a varying indentation hardnessacross the at least one substantially plane surface. A varyingindentation hardness may be provided in various ways, such as forexample by introducing one or more recesses in a surface opposing the atleast one substantially plane surface. By providing such one or morerecesses the indentation hardness of the at least one substantiallyplane surface will be soft in an area coinciding with a recess, whereasthe indentation hardness of an area not coinciding with a recess willnot be softened by the recess/recesses.

The polymer-based mat section may be arranged between a first and asecond polymer-based holding element, wherein the first polymer-basedholding element may comprise a first receiving member adapted to receiveand hold a handle of the safety razor blade. The second polymer-basedholding element may comprise a second receiving member adapted toreceive and hold a front portion of the safety razor blade. Each of thefirst and second receiving members may comprise one or more retainingelements for retaining respective portions of the safety razor blade inthe first and second receiving elements. These one or more retainingmembers may form an integral part of the device in that the one or moreretaining members may be formed as protrusions arranged at an entry toeach of the first and second receiving members. According to oneembodiment each receiving member comprises two retaining members.

The second polymer-based holding element may further comprise a recessadapted to accommodate a razor head of the safety razor blade when suchsafety razor blade is positioned in the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in further details with reference tothe accompanying figures, wherein

FIG. 1 shows the principle behind the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a safety razor blade positionedon a polymer-based mat,

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional front view of a safety razor bladepositioned on a polymer-based mat,

FIG. 5 shows a safety razor blade positioned on a polymer-based holderwith the razor blades arranged upwards to secure effective drying of therazor blades, and

FIG. 6 shows a safety razor blade positioned on a polymer-based holderwith the razor blades arranged downwards to secure effective protectionof the razor blades.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in details herein. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to belimited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In its most general aspect the present invention relates to a device forsharpening and cleaning safety razor blades. The invention comprises apolymer-based mat having an indentation hardness of around 10 on theDurometer Shore A scale. A safety razor blade is sharpened and cleanedby moving the safety razor blade across the polymer-based under theinfluence of an added abrasive or an added cleaning material. Thedirection of movement of the safety razor blade relative to thepolymer-based mat is opposite the normal shaving direction. By movingthe safety razor blade over the polymer-based mat under the influence ofthe added abrasive or the added cleaning material the cutting edges ofthe blades are refreshed in that deposits on the cutting edges areeffectively removed. Cleaning of the device is easily performed by usingwater.

In one embodiment of the present invention the polymer-based matcomprises channels or pores adapted to accommodate or house the abrasiveor cleaning material. Thus, the polymer-based mat itself may be capableof accommodating an amount of abrasive or cleaning material sufficientfor sharpening and cleaning the razor blade. The required abrasive orcleaning is released from the polymer-based mat via the channels orpores by slightly compressing the polymer-based mat with the razorblade.

Referring now to FIG. 1a a device according to the present invention isdepicted. FIG. 1 shows a frame structure 1 having a polymer-based mat 2arranged therein. Along the long sidewall portions of the framestructure a pair of guiding tracks 4 (only one track is visible inFIG. 1) are arranged. The height of the frame structure 1 exceeds theheight of the polymer-based mat which helps preventing that an addedabrasive or an added cleaning material 3 leaves the polymer-based mat.Preferably, the frame structure 1 is fabricated in a material suitablefor injection moulding, such as for example plastic. In FIG. 1b a safetyrazor blade 5 including a handle 6 has been positioned in the device. Asdepicted in Fig. lb the safety razor blade is pressed towards thepolymer-based mat by use of the handle 6 and moved across thepolymer-based mat as indicated by the arrow. During this movement of thesafety razor blade, at least part of the added abrasive or the addedcleaning material 3 is distributed over the polymer-based mat 2.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device according to the presentinvention. As seen the frame structure 1 comprises a substantiallyrectangular sidewall portion with an indentation 12 arranged therein. Inthe bottom surface of this indentation 12 four through-going openings 11are arranged. The number of through-going holes 11 may obviously bedifferent from four and they may be arranged in a different manner. Theindentation 12 is adapted to receive and hold the polymer-based mat 2which will be kept in position by the rectangular-shaped sidewallportion. Obviously, the form of the sidewall portion may be differentfrom rectangular and may thus be elliptical, quadratic or the like. Theform of the polymer-based mat 2 may obviously also be different fromrectangular as long as it fits into the indentation formed in the framestructure 1. As depicted in FIG. 2 the polymer-based mat 2 comprisesfour protrusions 10 which fit into the through-going openings 11. Thenumber four is just exemplary, thus, the number of protrusions may bedifferent from four, and the protrusions may be arranged differently.These four protrusions 10 form a non-slipping fixture to an underlyingsurface, such as the surface of a bathroom table.

An enlarge depiction showing a safety razor blade 5 having three bladespositioned on the polymer-based mat 2 is shown in FIG. 3. As seen theend portion 7 of the safety razor blade 5 abuts the guiding track 4.Thus, the guiding track 4 defines the maximum indentation depth of theblades 8 into the polymer-based mat 2.

A cross-sectional front view is shown in FIG. 4. In addition, anenlarged portion of the right hand side of the upper figure is shown.FIG. 4 shows a safety razor blade 5 positioned in the frame structure 1so that the end portions 7, 7′ abut guiding tracks 4, 4′. Thepolymer-based mat 2 is positioned in the opening/indentation of theframe structure 1. When the safety razor blade 5 is to be sharpened orcleaned it is moved in the direction out of the paper. The enlargedfigure shown in the bottom of FIG. 4 shows that the upper surface 9 ofthe polymer-based mat 2 is slightly elevated, about 1 mm, relative tothe guiding track 4′.

FIG. 5 shows a polymer-based safety razor blade holder. The safety razorblade holder according to FIG. 5 is fabricated by a polymer material,such as silicone, only. Preferably, the safety razor blade holder ofFIG. 5 is fabricated as a one-piece component using for example aninjection moulding fabrication process. As depicted in FIG. 5 the holdercomprises a middle portion 13 and two end portions 14, 15. The middleportion 13 comprises a substantially planar surface across which therazor blades 18 are adapted to be moved during sharpening/cleaning. Endportion 14 comprises a flexible receiving arrangement 17 adapted toreceive and hold a handle 16 of the razor. Since the end portion 14 ismade of a polymer material the receiving arrangement 17 is capable ofreceiving and holding razor handles with varying dimensions. In order toretain the handle 16 in the receiving arrangement 17 two retainingmembers 21, 22 are provided. As depicted in FIG. 5 the safety razorblade holder is capable of holding the razor in a position where therazor blades 18 are pointing upwards, i.e. away from the razor bladeholder. By positioning the razor blades 18 in this manner the razorblades 18 are allowed to dry in an effective manner without oxidation ofthe razor blades 18. Such oxidation of the razor blades 18 may easilydamage the razor blades 18. Thus, by positioning the razor blade asdepicted in FIG. 5 corrosion and thereby related damage of the razorblades 18 is minimized. The front portion 19 of the razor is receivedand held by a flexible receiving arrangement 20 which is capable ofreceiving and holding front ends of razors with varying dimensions. Inorder to retain the front portion 19 in the receiving arrangement 20 tworetaining members 23, 24 are provided. In addition, a recess 25 isprovided in end portion 15 for accommodating the head of the razorblade.

FIG. 6 shows the polymer-based safety razor blade holder also depictedin FIG. 5. However, in FIG. 6 the razor 26 is positioned with razorblades pointing downwards, i.e. towards the razor blade holder. Bypositioning the razor blades in this manner the razor blades areeffectively protected during transport. Particularly, the razor blade isprotected against mechanical shocks—for example if the razor bladeholder is accidentally dropped.

1-26. (canceled)
 27. A device for treating a safety razor blade thatcomprises blades fixed between end portions of the safety razor blade,the device comprising: a substantially rigid frame structure; and apolymer-based mat coupled to the frame structure; wherein thepolymer-based mat comprises at least one substantially plane surfacehaving an indentation hardness less than 50 measured on the DurometerShore A scale, and wherein the polymer-based mat is configured tosharpen and clean the blades when the safety razor blade is moved alongthe polymer-based mat, with the blades in contact with the polymer-basedmat, in a direction opposite to a normal shaving direction.
 28. Thedevice of claim 27, wherein the indentation hardness of thepolymer-based mat is less than 40 measured on the Durometer Shore Ascale.
 29. The device of claim 27, wherein the indentation hardness ofthe polymer-based mat is less than 30 measured on the Durometer Shore Ascale.
 30. The device of claim 27, wherein the indentation hardness ofthe polymer-based mat is less than 20 measured on the Durometer Shore Ascale.
 31. The device of claim 27 wherein the indentation hardness ofthe polymer-based mat varies across the at least one substantially planesurface.
 32. The device of claim 27, wherein the polymer-based matcomprises channels or pores configured to accommodate an abrasive orcleaning material.
 33. The device of claim 27, wherein the polymer-basedmat comprises silicone.
 34. The device of claim 27, wherein the devicecomprises silicone.
 35. The device of claim 27, wherein the device formsa one-piece component comprising a polymer-based material.
 36. Thedevice of claim 35, wherein the polymer-based material is silicone. 37.A device for treating a safety razor blade that comprises blades fixedbetween end portions of the safety razor blade, the device comprising: apolymer-based mat, the polymer-based mat comprising at least onesubstantially plane surface having an indentation hardness less than 50measured on the Durometer Shore A scale; a first sidewall on a firstside of the polymer-based mat; and a second sidewall on a second side ofthe polymer-based mat; wherein the first and second sidewalls areconfigured to prevent the safety razor blade from sliding off thepolymer-based mat in a first direction when a user of the device issliding the blades along the polymer-based mat, with the blades incontact with the polymer-based mat, in a second direction that isperpendicular to the first direction.
 38. The device of claim 37,wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than40 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale.
 39. The device of claim 37,wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than30 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale.
 40. The device of claim 37,wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat is less than20 measured on the Durometer Shore A scale.
 41. The device of claim 37,wherein the indentation hardness of the polymer-based mat varies acrossthe at least one substantially plane surface.
 42. The device of claim37, wherein the polymer-based mat comprises channels or pores configuredto accommodate an abrasive or cleaning material.
 43. The device of claim37, wherein the polymer-based mat comprises silicone.
 44. The device ofclaim 37, wherein the device comprises silicone.
 45. The device of claim37, wherein the device forms a one-piece component comprising apolymer-based material.
 46. The device of claim 45, wherein thepolymer-based material is silicone.